Moving-picture machine.



G. W. BINGHAM. MOVING PICTURE MACHINE. ArrLIoATIox Hmm JULY'a. 1910.

Patented Jan. 31,1911.

2 BEEIITHHEET 1.

` G. W. BINGHAM. MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLIUA'rIoN FILED JULY e, 1910.

Patented Jan. 31,1911.l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a wu Wto-z pNiTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

GEORGE W. BINGHAM, OF YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BINGHAM MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

`Application led J'uly G, 1910. Serial No. 570,543.

' To all whom it lrra/Ly concern:

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, New York city, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moving-Picture Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in nmving-picture machines, generally, and in particular to the means for feeding the film. i 4

In practically all the moving picture machines in use at the present time the film is 'ted vthrough the machine by sprocket wheels provided with spurs or teeth which engage in corresponding perforations in the strip of film. In addition to this so-called feeding movement, the film` is given an intermittent advancing movement past the exposure opening of the machine. This intermittentadvancing movement is usually communicated to the film by means of another sprocket, which, by means of a Geneva gear, or like mechanism is caused to be intermittently rotated. In most cases, then, the whole, and in all cases, the greater part, of the strain of pulling the film through themachine is borne by the perforations in the film, and as' the pierforations wear down, the piotures on the film will fail to properly register with the exposure opening, and the value .of the film will be lessened or entirely destroyed. The film thus becomes useless and is said to be worn out, when as a matter of `fact only the perforated portions of the film may be worn while the actual pictures on the film may still be perfectly' good. Heretofore, then, the life of the film has been limited merely to the period of usefulness of the perforations in the film. The wear on the face ot the film is very slight, so, on account of this limitation the actual value and useful life of the film has been far below what it should be.

The principal object of this invention is to do away with the necessity for perforating the film, and to feed the. film by engagement only with the surfacethereof.

In the carrying out of the invention I employ smooth faced continuously rotating rolls between which the film is gripped, and which by reason of this gripping action, impart a positive feeding motion to the film.

Ithas been proposed, heretofore, to feed the film by means of rolls of yielding and non-yielding material respectively, between which the film is passed, one of the rolls being positively driven and the other roll deriving its motion simply from its frictional contact with the driven roll. (See Patent No. 600,113). Such a structure is not practical nor successful for the reason that as one of the rolls simply drags on the other, there is always'a certain amount of slippage so that the film is not accurately fed forward,-in other words, it is not uniformly and positively driven,-as a result of which the pictures on the film appear more or less irregnlarl y and fail to properly register with the exposure opening of the machine. The reason for this irregular and uncertain feeding of the lm can probably be'best understood when it is considered that there is a propelling force broughtto bear on one face of the film (the side next the driven roll) and a drag is exerted on the opposite face of the film (the side which is in contact with the loose roll). In my invention I have overcome these various faults and objections by driving the rolls positively and at uniform rates of speed, so that the film .will be firmly gripped between the two rolls and will be fed forward positively with no slippage or irregularity of action. Also, preferably, the rolls are made of equal diameter and of non-yielding materialso that they shall be absolutely positive and regular in action. The rolls are preferably held together by a yielding or spring pressure -so as to allow for any splices or joints in the film and to permit separation of the rolls for the purpose of first inserting the film therebetween. 'Ihc'rolls are arranged in pairs as above described and may be disposed either above or below the exposure opening, or both above and below said opening.

lilith my improved film feeding means, I preferably employ means for intermittently advancing the film which shall, 1n the act of advancing the film, engage only the face er surface of the film. This means may conveniently consist of'an oscillating tubular member through which the film is passed.

The invention may -be applied equally as -well to the camera for .taking the pictures as..

andI have provided means for adjusting the size of the light aperture to-suit different conditions, this means being operable while the machine is in operation as well as when` the shutter is at resti Various other objects and features of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention but it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the feeding mechanism of a moving picture machine, in the form of a projector, embodying my invention. The parts carrying the exposure opening are indicated in section in this view. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of one of the feed rolls. Fig. 3, is a more or less diagrammatic view of the invention as embodied in a camera.v Fig. 11, is a det-ached .view in perspective of my irnproved adjustable shutter.

Like reference characters are used to designatelike parts throughout the several views.

The film feeding rolls are designated 1 and 2, and preferably'one of the rolls (l) 'is relatively stationary and may therefore be carried by the frame. 3 of the machine, while the other roll (2) is movably mounted with respect to the first and may conveniently be carried'by a pivoted lever 4, which swings on a center 5. The rolls are prefer- -ably held in yielding face-to-face engagement by suitable means such as the spring 6, connected at one end to the lever 4, and having its other end anchored to the frame of the machine.

The feed rolls are constantly any suitable gearing. stance (see Fig. l) this a main drive gear 7, on and a driven rotated by In the present ingearing consists of the drive shaft 8, gear 9, carried by one of the rolls. This main drive gear may be motordriven or may be manually operated as by means of the crank handle 56, shown in Figs. l and 3. The main drive gear may mesh direct with the gear 9 on the feed roll, as shown in the lower portion of Fig. l, or where necessary, an idler 10, may be interposed between the driving and driven gears, as shown in the upper portion of this view. The feed rolls thus rotate continuously and they are gea-red so as to rotate in unison. as by means of intermeshing gears 11 carried by the respective rolls. To further insure absolute uniformity inthe movement of the rolls, they are preferably of equal diameter, as shown.

In order to rotect the face' of the film as much as possible from wear, the rolls areA preferably recessed (see Fi 2) as at 13, bctween their ends so as to Ieave the smooth annular rim portions 14 at the ends thereof which engage the edge portions of the film. In this way the film is gripped only at the edge portions thereof so that no wear comel on the central picture-carrying portion of the film. In order that the feed rolls may be as light as possible they are preferably bored out from one end as shown in the sectional view, Fig. 2, and the end of the bore is then closed b a plug 15, which may, as shown, be provi ed with gear teeth to serve as one ofthe intermeshing gears between the rolls. An annular space 16, is preferably provided between the end of the feed roll and the Gear to receive a which prevents e ewise movement of the film. The feed ro ls, as thus arranged in pairs, are disposed wherever necessary in the machine. Usually, as shown in the drawings, there is provided a pair of feed rolls located above or in advance of the exposure openin 57, which act to withdraw the film from t e film support (not shown) and another pair of feed rolls located below the eiiposure opening which act as a take-up device to take up the film as it is intermittently advanced past the exposure opening.

Any suitable means may be used for intermittently advancing the film past the exposure opening. This ymeans consists preferably of a tubular member through 'which the film is passed and which is mounted so as to oscillate in such a way as to intermittently advance the film. In the present case I have illustrated a form of this socalled tubular member which is ver simple in construction. As shown most cliezarly in Fig. l, this tubular member, in the present instance, consists preferably of a supporting member 18 which is pivotally mounted so as to be capable of an oscillatory motion.l

and the spaced guidesf 19 and 20 carried thereby and which extend in opposite directions from the said supporting member. The film passes down underneath the upper of the so-called guides, in between the guides, and over the upper face of the other ide. This tubular film advancing member is oseillated by any suitable means and in the present instance this means consists of a cam member 21 having a cam slot 22 therein which is engaged by the cam roll 23 on the end of the arm 24 which arm is connected to the member 18.

For the purpose of framing the pictures on the film withA respect to the exposure opening, a suitable framing device may be provided. This so-called framing device consists preferably, as shown in the present instance, of an adjustable guiding member 25 over which the film passes after issuing from the tubular film advancing member.

l This guiding member is preferably. adjusted guard 17, Y

osmosi by'being mounted to rock on the center 2G,V

it having, for purposes of adjustment, a segment 27 which is operated by a worm 28 and finger-hold 29.

When the film is being threaded through the machine preparatory to taking or exhibit-ing the pictures, the feed rolls must be separated to permit the insertion of the -flm therebetween. Means are therefore preferably provided for holding the rolls in this separated position, and this means may be interconnected sons to hold all the various sets of feed rolls in separated position. For this reason the ends of the levers 4 which carry the movable feed. rolls may be brought together on converging lines, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and be provided at said converging ends wit-h means for locking the le- 4 vers together to .thereby hold the respective 'feed rolls separated. This locking means .may be in the form of some sort of a latch, I. which, as shown in Fig. 1, may simply consist, of a pivoted link 3() carried by one of' I lthe levers which, when the levers are pinched together, will drop down over the end of the other of the levers to hold said levers with the rolls inseparated position. The latch shown in Fig. 3 is of slightly diei'ent form. vI-Iere one of the levers 4 is provided with a hook part 31 and an inclined way 32 leading up to" said hook j part, while the other'of said levers is pro vided with a pin 33 which rides over the inclined way 32 into engagement with the hook on Ithe end of the lever. In the case of the projector shown in Fig. 1, the shutter may consist simplyof a blade 34 carried by a pivoted arm 35 which is operated by a crank connection 36 from the crank disk 37.

This kind of a shutter is not so Well adapted to a camera, however, and I find that better results are obtained if the exposure is made by passing a beam of light progressively across the face of the negative, rather than by exposing the Whole face of the negative at once. In the case of a camera, therefore, I preferably provide a speci-a1 form-of shutter consisting of a main shutter blade 38 having a slot .or light aperture 39 therel'n and a supplementary shutter .for opening and closing the light aperture in the main shutter blade. In addition to this supplementary shutter I provide means for adjusting the size of the light aperture. This special form of shutter mechanism is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. I-Iere the'means for regulating the size of the light aperture is, as shown, preferably in the form of an'y aperture closing blade 40 carried by a lever 41, which lever is pivotally carried'on the main shutter arm 42 on the center 43. The

. main shutter arm is carried'on the pivot 44.

of whether the shutter is operating or not,

the lever whichcarries the aperture closing b lade is preferably extended to a ypoint in line with the pivot center 44 of the main shutter blade and at this point, 45, there is connected with said lever, a -suitable connection 46 which may. be adjusted by suitable means such as the thumb nut 47. It"

will be obvious from this that inasmuch as the center of connection with the lever c arrying the aperture closing blade is in line with the center of movement of the main shutter blade, the size of the light aperture maybe adjusted at will, and at anytime, Whether the machine is running or-fnot. The supplementary shutter blade already referred to is shown at 48, this blade being carried by a lever 49 which may, if desired, form an elbow or a continuation of the crank rod 50, which crank rod serves to impart oscillation to the shutter from the crank'disk 51. The pivot 43 upon which the lever 41 is mounted may conveniently act as the wrist pin to whichvthe connecting rod 50 is connected.

For the purpose of observing the action of the shutter and the relative size of the light aperture therein, the camera box (not shown) containing the mechanism illu'strated in Fig. 3, may be provided with a suitable sight opening closed by a piece of ruby glass 52. The disposition of this ruby glass is only diagrammatically illust-rated in Fig. 3, since the whole figure is more or less diagrammatic in its nature. The relative size of the light aperture in the shutter blade may be shown by some sort of an indicator, this indicator being moved proportionately as the size of the light aperture is increased or diminished. An indicator of this sort is illustrated in Fig. 3 and, as shown in this view, it may consist simply of Ia pointer arm 53, either carried by or connected with the means for adjusting the light aperture and registering upon a suitable scale 54. An indicator of this sort will show at all times the relative size ofthe light aperture in the shutter.

Inasmuch as the means for intermittently advancing the film makes engagement only with the face of the film, it will be evident .that by the simple act ofspreading or sep- 'ai-ating the film feeding rolls, the film muy be -freely pulled through the machine in Aeither direction, either backward or for- 4ward. handle imperforate films, it will be .obvious While my machine is designed to that perforated films may be handled just as well, and in .fact one of the advantages of my invent-ion consists in that perforated films which have been Worn to such an extent as to become valueless in the ordinary type of machine, may be exhibited in my machine equally las well as a new film could be used.

What is claimed is: l 1. In a moving picture machine provided with an ex osure opening, means en aging .the face o the lilm to intermittenty ad-- to grip the film passingbetweenthem and being geared so as to rotate in unison.

2. In a moving picture machinejprovided with an exposure opening, means for intermittently advancing the film past said exposure opening, and a take-up device located below the exposure opening and embodying a pair of smooth-faced continuously rotat-A ing rolls held in yielding engagement with each other between which the film is gripped, said rolls being geared to rotate in unison.

3. In a moving picture machine, film feeding means comprising a pair of smooth-"i faced continuously rotating rolls held in yielding engagement with each other so as to grip the film passed therebetween, and means for rotating said rolls in unison.

4. In a moving picture machine, film feed-` ing means comprising smooth-faced continuously rotating rolls arranged in pairs above and below the exposure opening, and means, for holding the rolls of the respective pairs in yielding engagement.

5. In a moving picture machine provided with an exposure opening, means for intermittently advancing the film past said exposure opening` and iilm feeding means comprising smooth-faced continuously rotating rolls arranged in pairs above and below the exposure opening, means for rotating the rolls of each pair in unison, and means for holding the respective rolls.of each pair in yielding engagement.

6. In a moving picture machine provided with an exposure opening, means engaging only the face of'the film to intermittently advance the lm past the exposure opening,-

and lm feeding means comprising smoothfaced continuously rotating rolls arranged in pairs above and below the exposure opengeared so as to rotate in unison. v

7. In a moving picture machine provided with an exposure opening, means engaging only the face of the film to intermittently advance the film past the exposure opening, lm feeding means comprising smoothfaced continuously rotating rolls arranged in pairs above and below the exposure opening, the rolls of the respective pairs being geared so as to rotate in unison, and means for holding the rolls of the respective pairs in yielding engagement.

8. In a moving picture machine, film feeding means comprising Vsmooth-faced continuously rotating rolls, means for holding said rolls in yielding engagement, and'means for separating the rolls to permit insertion of the film.

9. In a moving picture machine, film feeding means comprising a pluralit of smoothfaced continuously in pairs, means 'for holding the rolls of the respective pairs in'yielding engagement, and means for separating the ro ls of the respective pairs Vto permit insertion of the film therebetween. Y

10. In a 4moving picture machine, film feeding means'comprising a pair of smoothfaced continuously rotatin rolls, means for holding said rolls in yielding engagement, means for separating the rolls to permit insertion of the film therebetween, and a latch for holding said rolls in sition. v

11. In a moving picture machine, film feeding means comprising a plurality of smooth-faced continuously rotatin "rolls arranged in pairs, means for holding. the rolls of the respective pairs in yield engagement, means for separating the ros'of the respective pairs to permit insertion of the film therebetween, and a latch for holding the rolls in separated position.

12. Film feeding means for moving picturemachines comprising a relatively stationary smooth-faced continuously rotating roll, and a second smooth-faced roll having a movement toward and away from the relatively stationary roll and having a gearing connection therewith so as to rotate in unison with said relatively stationary roll.

13. Film feeding means for moving picture machines comprisin a relatively stationary smooth-faced rol, a pivoted lever, a smooth-faced roll carried spring engaging the lever to hold the roll carried thereby normally in enga ement with the relatively stationary rol and means for imparting continuous an uniform rotation to the two rolls.

14. Film feeding means for a moving tu're machine consisting of a relatively stationary smooth-faced roll, means for con- Y tinuously rotating said roll, a gear carried ing, the rolls of the respective pairs being "b y said roll, a pivoted lever and a smoothfaced roll carried thereby, a s ring connected with said llever to normal y hold the roll carried thereby in yielding engagement with the relatively stationary roll, and a gear carried by the relatively movable roll adapted for engagement with the gear of the relatively stationary roll.

15. Film feeding means for movin tui'e machines comprising continuous y ro- ,tating rolls having smooth-faced annular rims on their end holding said rolls nular portions thereof in yielding engagement.

16. Film feeding means for movin ture machines comprising smooth-faced portions, and means for picrolls rotating ro ls arranged` the separated popicpic:

with the smooth-faced anby said lever, a.

carried thereby. 18. In a moving picture machine, a film` having an annularv recessed portion between the ends thereof, means for holding said smooth-faced rolls in yielding engagement, and means for imparting 4a continuous rotation to said rolls.

17. Film feeding means for moving picture machines comprising smooth-facedr rolls, means normally holding said rolls `with the smooth faces thereof in engagement, gears carried by said rolls separated from'the ends of the rollsby an intervening:

space, and a' guard entered in the space between the ends of the rolls and the gears of spaced guides carried by said supporting member between which ides the film is adapted vto be passed, sai guides extending `from opposite sides of the supporting mem` ber in opposite directions from said member,

20. Film feeding means for moving picture machines comprisingv relatively stationary rolls, pivoted levers and rolls carried thereby to coperate with the relatively stationary rolls, said levers having operating ends varranged on converging. lines whereby the levers may be operated simultaneously to separate the rolls on the levers from therelatively stationary rolls.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York andState of New York this 28 day of June A. D. 1910.

GEORGE W. BI'NGHAM.'

Witnesses: l

LAURA E. SMITH, PHILIP S. MCLEAN'. 

